The moods of children attending the 10th annual Kidsfest varied, depending on which hall they were in.

Those in the north and south exhibit halls of the Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S. Buchanan St., were talking excitedly, picking up backpacks, laughing, getting temporary tattoos, jumping in a bounce house or working with crafts.

Those in the Regency Hall, where low-cost vaccinations were available, were a little more somber. Some were downright upset as they left the hall.

The annual back-to-school event distributes school supplies and offers vaccinations.

Tamika and Clint Keese, both 30, of Amarillo, said they brought their five children and three of their friends’ children to the event to make sure they had enough school supplies.

The couple took their entourage through several exhibits, including one concerned with water conservation.

Clint Keese’s stepdaughter, Angel Lynn Marie Varner, 8, said she woke up early Saturday for the event.

“I learned you should turn off the water,” Varner said. “I learned you should flush less often.”

It was early Saturday, and the soon-to-be third-grader said she’d already seen several other students she recognized.

That wasn’t surprising, organizers said. They estimated there would be 15,000 attendees for the four-hour event. It seemed as if many went early. Halls were packed shortly after 8 a.m.

Tamika Keese said she thought the crowd may have caused early attendees to be “grouchy.”

Six-year-old Sean Martinez said he was getting ready to go to the second grade for the coming school year.

“I’ve been in the first grade, but I’m going to second grade. We’re just getting stuff we want, like school supplies and a backpack.”

Volunteers from area Walmart stores and Amarillo National Bank handed out brightly colored backpacks filled with supplies such as notebooks, pencils, crayons and glue.

Jim Sanders, the manager of the Grand Street Walmart, said area stores spent about $16,000 on supplies for the backpacks. He said the Texas Department of Transportation provided the backpacks.

“It’s been a good turnout,” he said. “With the weather, it’s been good to be in here.”

Students who found themselves in the Regency Hall might have disagreed about how good it was to be in the center Saturday.

Amarillo Department of Public Health Director Matt Richardson said health officials anticipated they would provide 600 to 800 immunization shots at the event.

“There are quite a few kindergartners, quite a few seventh-graders,” said Casie Stoughton, the city’s immunization coordinator. “Those are the main grades when kids need shots.”

Jacorey Weeter’s lower lip drooped as he walked out of the hall.

“I got one right here, right here, right here, right here,” the 4-year-old said as he pointed at his shoulders and thighs. “It felt like somebody snapped my butt.”